What Is Happiness?
Happiness is something we all want, but it’s surprisingly hard to define. Ask ten people what makes them happy, and you’ll probably get ten different answers: spending time with family, traveling, enjoying a good meal, having a sense of purpose, or even just getting a solid night’s sleep.
But what if, no matter what’s happening around you, happiness feels out of reach? That’s often the experience of depression. As a psychiatrist, I often hear patients say: “I don’t even need to be extra happy — I just want to feel like myself again.” This is where treatment, including antidepressants, can play an important role.
Let’s explore what happiness really means, how depression can disrupt it, and how antidepressants, self-care, and holistic treatment can help people reconnect with their sense of joy and purpose.
So, What Is Happiness?
Happiness isn’t about smiling all the time or pretending everything is fine. It as a state of well-being made up of a few different layers:
Feelings: joy, calm, peace, and contentment
Mindset: hope, optimism, and resilience
Meaning: having purpose, values, or connections that matter
The 3 Pillars of a Life Worth Living
When depression takes hold, these pillars often weaken. Someone may withdraw from loved ones, lose interest in their goals, or feel that nothing brings satisfaction.
Treatment is about helping people rebuild these foundations so happiness can grow again.
Why Depression Gets in the Way
Depression isn’t just “feeling sad.” It’s a medical condition that changes how the brain processes emotions and experiences. People with depression often describe feeling “numb” or “disconnected” from life, even during moments that used to bring joy.
Depression can:
Drain energy and motivation
Flatten emotions, making once-enjoyable activities feel meaningless
Distort thinking, replacing hope with self-criticism or despair
Disrupt sleep, appetite, and concentration
This is why people often say, “I know I should feel happy, but I can’t.” The ability to feel pleasure and meaning is being blocked at the biological level.
How Antidepressants Work in This Context
Antidepressants aren’t “happy pills.” They don’t directly create happiness, and they can’t solve every problem in life. Instead, they work by rebalancing brain chemistry, giving your mind the chance to experience happiness again.
Most antidepressants target neurotransmitters — chemicals like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine that regulate mood, motivation, and energy. When these systems are disrupted, depression symptoms can dominate.
By restoring balance, antidepressants can:
Reduce persistent sadness and hopelessness
Improve energy, focus, and daily functioning
Help people feel more present and engaged
Allow positive experiences to “register” again
Think of it this way: antidepressants clear the fog, making it easier to connect with others, rediscover purpose, and feel fulfillment.
The Role of Self-Care in Happiness
Medication can reset the brain’s balance, but self-care provides the building blocks for lasting well-being. Simple daily habits have a surprisingly powerful effect on mood and resilience. Some key areas include:
Hydration and Nutrition: Drinking enough water and eating balanced meals (rich in whole foods, protein, and nutrients) support brain function and energy.
Exercise: Physical activity releases endorphins, improves sleep, and reduces stress. It doesn’t have to be intense — even a 20-minute walk can help lift mood.
Sleep: Consistent, restful sleep is one of the strongest protectors against depression and anxiety. Setting a bedtime routine and limiting screen time before bed makes a difference.
Relaxation and Stress Management: Mindfulness, breathing exercises, or simply taking breaks throughout the day help the nervous system reset.
Routine and Balance: Structure creates stability. Even small daily rituals like morning coffee, journaling, or stretching can anchor the day.
These self-care practices strengthen the same pillars of connection, purpose, and fulfillment that antidepressants make accessible again. Together, they create a foundation where happiness feels sustainable, not fleeting.
Holistic, Integrative Care at Tranquility Psychiatry
At Tranquility Psychiatry, we believe happiness and healing are best supported through a holistic and integrative approach. That means we don’t just prescribe medication — we combine:
Psychotherapy woven into each visit, so you’re always learning skills alongside medication management
Lifestyle guidance, including support for sleep, exercise, nutrition, and stress management
Collaborative care, tailored to your unique goals, values, and circumstances
Our goal is to help you restore balance, not only in your brain chemistry but in your daily life. By addressing the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — we create space for lasting happiness and resilience.
Helpful Resources for Building Happiness
If you’re interested in exploring happiness from different perspectives, one powerful resource is The Happiness Trap by Dr. Russ Harris. This book is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and challenges the common idea that happiness means always feeling good. Instead, it shows how learning to live with life’s ups and downs — while focusing on values, mindfulness, and self-compassion — can lead to a richer, more meaningful sense of well-being.
For many people, combining tools like this with professional psychiatric care creates a balanced path forward. Medication may lift the fog of depression, while resources like The Happiness Trap offer practical skills for building resilience and living in alignment with your values.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If depression has made happiness feel out of reach, you don’t have to go through it alone. At Tranquility Psychiatry, our psychiatrists are here to support you with compassionate, integrative care that blends medication and psychotherapy.
Book a visit with us today to begin rebuilding the pillars of connection, purpose, and fulfillment — and to rediscover what happiness can mean for you.
